Group tasks FG to return IDPs to ancestral homes

Irked by the continuous stay of Internally-Displaced Persons (IDPs) in several camps, the Mutual Union of the Tiv in America (MUTA) has appealed to the Federal Government (FG) to resettle them across the country in their ancestral homes.

The association’s sub-Committee Chairman on IDPs, Prof. Joseph Zume, made the appeal, yesterday, at MUTA inter-denomination rally held at Abagena IDP Camp in Makurdi.

He expressed sadness that no citizen should be allowed to become permanent refugees in their own country.

Represented by Dr Yakubu Tor-Agbidye, Zume was unhappy over incessant attacks on innocent citizens across the country and called for a united Nigeria.

He decried the deplorable living conditions of the citizens at various IDP camps, adding that thousands of children were out of school.

He said the union had petitioned the National Assembly and drawn the international community’s attention to the plight of these displaced populations.

In his remarks, Governor Samuel Ortom regretted that the state, since 2018, has recorded incessant attacks by suspected herdsmen, adding that over 1.7 million persons were displaced.

Ortom, represented by the Executive Secretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Dr. Emmanuel Shior, said his administration was responsible for the welfare and feeding of IDPs since then.

He appealed to the Federal Government to support the state to resettle the victims in their ancestral homes.

Ortom said: “At the moment, 11,900 Camerounian refugees are in a designated place known as the Ikyogen Refugee Settlement, in Kwande Local Council.”

He commended NEMA, Rivers and Ebonyi states, donor agencies and security agencies for their support to the victims.